Disposable Insulating Container

ABSTRACT

A disposable insulating container comprising an inner container that comprises a first space for containing an edible product like nitrogen ice cream, an outer container that surrounds the inner container, a second space formed between the inner container and the outer container, and a stopping device that prevents moving of the inner container with respect to the outer container. The second space contains cryogenic coolant like dry ice. A spacing device keeps space between the inner container and the outer container. Fog formed by reaction of water added to the dry ice in the second space and passes through the gap between the outer container and the inner container provides decorative effect to the container containing nitrogen ice cream.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a disposable insulating container for temporarily storing frozen or refrigerated food or drink. More specifically, the present invention is related to a disposable insulating container for temporarily storing cryogenically frozen food.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cryogenically frozen food is a new trend due to the effect of ultra-fast freezing by cryogenic cooling. Recently, the idea of using liquid nitrogen to make ice cream has been commercialized. Liquid nitrogen is used to freeze liquid ingredients to frozen state in splits of a second. Such rapid freezing produces smaller crystal grains, resulting in ice cream of creamier texture with less milk fat. In order to preserve the taste of nitrogen ice cream, it should be served to a customer in a portable container that keeps cryogenically cooled state of the ice cream. Since the customer handles the container after selling nitrogen ice cream, such container must meet the requirements of good insulation, safety, low manufacturing cost and ease of handling by a sales clerk, etc.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a disposable insulating container that can temporarily store cryogenically frozen food.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a disposable insulating container that can be safely hand-carried by customers who enjoy cryogenically frozen food.

Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a disposable insulating container that adds decorative effect to the cryogenically frozen food that it contains.

In order to achieve the objectives, the present invention provides a disposable insulating container comprising an inner container that comprises a first space that is adapted to contain an edible product, an outer container that surrounds the inner container, a second space formed between the inner container and the outer container, and a stopping device that prevents moving of the inner container with respect to the outer container.

The outer container comprises an outer top opening, an outer side wall and an outer bottom. The inner container comprises an inner top opening, an inner side wall and an inner bottom. The inner side wall and the inner bottom form the first space. The height of the inner side wall is smaller than the height of the outer side wall, so that the second space is formed between the outer bottom and the inner bottom, and surrounded by the outer side wall.

The disposable insulating container further comprises a spacing device that keeps the inner side wall away from the outer side wall by a predetermined distance when the inner container is assembled with the outer container.

The spacing device comprises a plurality of spacing projections that protrudes from the inner side wall. The spacing projections contact the outer side wall when the inner container is assembled with the outer container.

The stopping device comprises one or more stop protrusions and a peripheral flange. The stop protrusions are provided on the outer top opening. The peripheral flange is provided on the inner top opening. The peripheral flange engages with the stop protrusions when the inner container is assembled with the outer container.

Preferably, the outer container and the inner container have substantially circular shape.

Preferably, the second space is adapted to contain cryogenic coolant. The outer container is made of an insulating material that can withstand cryogenic temperature created by the cryogenic coolant.

The advantageous effects of the present invention are: (1) the stopping device of the disposable insulating container prevents accidental spill of cryogenic coolant thereby providing a safe means to carry cryogenically frozen food like nitrogen ice cream; (2) the second space of the container facilitates putting cryogenic coolant like dry ice; (3) the spacing device of the container provides controlled and safe decorative effect of fog generated by water added to dry ice in the second space; (4) the simple construction of the container enables low cost manufacturing; (5) the easy-to-assemble structure enables easy training of sales clerk and reduction of error.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the detailed description in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a disposable insulating container according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective of an outer container of the disposable insulating container;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the outer container; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an inner container of a disposable insulating container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a disposable insulating container 10 of the present inventions comprises an inner container 12 that comprises a first space 14 that is adapted to contain an edible product, an outer container 16 that surrounds the inner container 12, a second space 18 formed between the inner container 12 and the outer container 16, and a stopping device 20 that prevents moving of the inner container 12 with respect to the outer container 16.

As shown in FIGS. 1˜3, the outer container 16 comprises an outer top opening 22, an outer side wall 24 and an outer bottom 26. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the inner container 12 comprises an inner top opening 28, an inner side wall 30 and an inner bottom 32. The inner side wall 30 and the inner bottom 32 form the first space 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the height of the inner side wall 30 is smaller than the height of the outer side wall 24 by b, so that the second space 18 is formed between the outer bottom 26 and the inner bottom 32, and surrounded by the outer side wall 24.

Referring to FIG. 1, the disposable insulating container 10 further comprises a spacing device 34 that keeps the inner side wall 30 away from the outer side wall 24 by a predetermined distance a when the inner container 12 is assembled with the outer container 16.

Referring to FIG. 4, the spacing device 34 comprises a plurality of spacing projections 36 that protrudes from the inner side wall 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the spacing projections 36 contact the outer side wall 24 when the inner container 12 is assembled with the outer container 16. A gap 46 is provided between the outer side wall 24 and the inner side wall 30. The gap 46 is used for passage of fog, for example, generated by water added to dry ice in the second space 18.

Referring FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the stopping device 20 comprises one or more stop protrusions 38 and a peripheral flange 40. The stop protrusions 38 are provided on the outer top opening 22. The peripheral flange 40 is provided on the inner top opening 28. As shown in FIG. 1, the peripheral flange 40 engages with the stop protrusions 38 when the inner container 12 is assembled with the outer container 16.

In the embodiment, the outer container 16 and the inner container 12 have substantially circular shape.

In the embodiment, the second space 18 is adapted to contain cryogenic coolant. The outer container 16 is made of an insulating material that can withstand cryogenic temperature created by the cryogenic coolant. Specifically, the cryogenic coolant is dry ice 42, and the cryogenically frozen food is nitrogen ice cream 44. The locking mechanism provided by the stopping device 20 prevents accidental spill of the dry ice 42 in the second space 18.

Uses of the disposable insulating container are not limited to the above-explained embodiment. The container may be used to keep hot food like soup at warm temperature in the first space with heating element in the second space. With a sealing cap, the container may be used to contain hot or cold drinks in the first space. Suitable coolant or heating element may be stored in the second space depending on the temperature needed by the food or drink carried in the first space. The stopping device can be provided anywhere in the container, at the bottom or on the side wall.

The above description is illustrative and is not restrictive, and, as it will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the disclosure, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the following and pending claims along with their full scope of equivalents. 

1. A disposable insulating container comprising: a) an inner container that comprises a first space that is adapted to contain an edible product; b) an outer container that surrounds the inner container; c) a second space formed between the inner container and the outer container; and d) a stopping device that prevents moving of the inner container with respect to the outer container.
 2. The disposable insulating container of claim 1, wherein the outer container comprises an outer top opening, an outer side wall and an outer bottom, wherein the inner container comprises an inner top opening, an inner side wall and an inner bottom, wherein the inner side wall and the inner bottom form the first space, wherein the height of the inner side wall is smaller than the height of the outer side wall, whereby the second space is formed between the outer bottom and the inner bottom, and surrounded by the outer side wall.
 3. The disposable insulating container of claim 2, further comprising a spacing device that keeps the inner side wall away from the outer side wall by a predetermined distance when the inner container is assembled with the outer container.
 4. The disposable insulating container of claim 3, wherein the spacing device comprises a plurality of spacing projections that protrudes from the inner side wall, wherein the spacing projections contact the outer side wall when the inner container is assembled with the outer container.
 5. The disposable insulating container of claim 2, wherein the stopping device comprises one or more stop protrusions, and a peripheral flange, wherein the stop protrusions are provided on the outer top opening, wherein the peripheral flange is provided on the inner top opening, wherein the peripheral flange engages with the stop protrusions when the inner container is assembled with the outer container.
 6. The disposable insulating container of claim 5, wherein the outer container and the inner container have substantially circular shape.
 7. The disposable insulating container of claim 6, further comprising a spacing device that keeps the inner side wall away from the outer side wall by a predetermined distance when the inner container is assembled with the outer container,
 8. The disposable insulating container of claim 7, wherein the spacing device comprises a plurality of spacing projections that protrudes from the inner side wall, wherein the spacing projections contact the outer side wall when the inner container is assembled with the outer container.
 9. The disposable insulating container of claim 8, wherein the second space is adapted to contain cryogenic coolant, wherein the outer container is made of an insulating material that can withstand cryogenic temperature created by the cryogenic coolant. 